Thursday, December 03, 2009

Sehwag is a phenomenon of his own kind. There was none and there will be none. When he stepped onto the scene comparisons were often drawn between him and the God. He sometimes plays shots similar to Sachin and has still maintained that brazenness and rebellious streak of the Sachin we saw in 90s; but I think the similarities end at that.

Sehwag’s brains work differently – rather abnormally from those of most cricketers. Would you and I who have just about got to playing gully cricket or maybe school or college level cricket , and approaching our personal milestone even in those inconsequential matches; ever think of hitting a six to get to it? I don’t think so and that sets him apart. From the time he has hit the scene, he has kept it simple – if the ball is there to be hit, I will hit it. Let’s keep it that. So whether he is on 99 or 199 or 299 and tomorrow, hopefully he will be on 399 gunning for Lara’s record, it will still not matter to him.

He is one cricketer who has managed to get most fans to be awe-struck and frustrated at the same time. When he is on song there is none other batsman we want to see – heck he even had our attention stolen on his debut in 2001 against SA when the maestro was batting with him on the other end. In that partnership of 220 for the 5th wicket with Sachin, we often felt that we were watching the same guy bat at both ends- only the scoreboard seemed to change the name.

Sehwag is not consistent. Halt before you start gunning me for this. When Sachin and Dravid are on the team, you will get what I mean. You are pretty sure that one of them will get a century in a series, you can’t say the same for this mad man. It’s almost upto him to decide that. He will show some short genius spurts and then get out in the most stupid manner; then he will comeback and turn the pitch into a slaughter house making you feel really sorry for the opposition. Yeah only he can bring that feeling into you, in fact I think he must also be feeling sorry for the condescending attitude he shows to the opposition when he is on a song. Sorry symphony is not what you associate with this man – you associate only murder.

He sets up the match for India every time he decides to go berserk. His innings need not result in a century every time but he ensures that the match has turned in India’s favour and it leaves little for his team-mates to do to seal the win. His innings has not only demoralized the opposition but has also ensured enough inspiration for his team to follow his suit.

If he gets going he gets going big. Of his 17 100s – 12 are over 150 of which 6 are over 200 and of which 2 are triple hundreds and he is on the verge of becoming the first test player ever in the history of the game to crack 3 triple hundreds! None of India’s best batsmen – Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid boast of such huge scores. No I’m not comparing them – I’m just trying to make a point that this man too deserves his place which is unique in Indian Cricket’s hall of fame.

He might’ve got the total runs a grand or two less than he would’ve had he played himself in but that is not Sehwag and then there is no fun watching him. We have the Dravids, Laxmans, Gambhirs and Tendulkars take care of the consistency aspect, let Sehwag just be himself. He did play himself in after an unsteady start in the last match and see what resulted. Gambhir is a great influence on him, they play together in the Delhi team which has helped their rapport immensely at the international level. On Gambhir – the new wall of Indian cricket in another post.

Let Sehwag be the mad-man don’t ask him to change his game-plan. It will not work in 4 innings but it will work in the 5th and that should be enough for us. He does not move his feet, damn it not even when he hits those cover drives or those sixes with a straight bat and leaves me with a WTF expression in my mouth and on my face. So let him continue to do that till he decides to hang his boots. He will never get an expression like what a beauty or what timing or what a delight from us – all that we will keep saying is WTF! Yeah that’s the only expression that can describe this Mad-Man of Indian Cricket. So just let him be.

For there will be none again like him and we will keep reminding ourselves how god damn lucky we are to have had the bloody privilege to witness this Brutal Murderer – A Murderer we are so damn proud of!

Dont call him inconsistent... !! In Tests he is as consistent as sachin or Dravid.. if not better... !! he is 3rd fastest to 6000 in terms of innings only after SAchin and Sunil... and beleive me faster than Dravid in Tests is a huge achievement !!!

Add to that the fact he opens against the new ball !!! which moves !!! and the way he plays !!! the amount of shots he attempts the risks involved.. !!

I can never ever forget Veeru Smashing that 195 in Melbourne.. !! Though we lost that test... I must say all the talk of Chin Music against India stopped after that match up until this recent T-20 world cup.

Sehwag doesnt just score with ridiculous ease.. he pulverises the bowlers and there is a definite method to his madness !! If you saw both times he got to 50 in more number of balls... he is careful in the start.. he picks bowlers and he picks his area's !!! he is a very smart thinker and not as rash as he may seem !!!

A belligerent Sehwag sets up matches for India and its no co-incidence that after him starting to open India has won a lot more matches... !! the best thing is he has done it all around the world and so no one can now say that he is only a flat track bully !!!

The exhiliration one gets from watching him bat is second to only Warney bowling !!! Its edge of the seat stuff with him... !!!

@Hitchwriter: And I thought this was a post in itself:-) Can't debate with you but on the inconsistency bit - as I said he does not give me the assurance that he will get going in a series like Dravid or Tendulkar do. He has times where he does not get going at all. So that's why I maintain that he is inconsistent. Gambhir now gives that assurance.He may have got his runs in quick time and many more centuries but still he plays at his own whim and fancy:-) But rest assured when he plays he invariably sets up the game in favour of his team and is one of the chief contributors to our success in test cricket! Sad we don't get to play that more often - I hate BCCI!

And true about that ODI and T20 bit - can't figure out that as well. Guess in the tests time and balls are not haunting him so maybe he is much more at ease to thrash out!

Life...

For someone who loves being organized and planned in advance, life has taught that one can have none of that how much ever one wants to:-)

I never wanted to live abroad, I tried every possible way to avoid it but now I've completed 3 years of expat life in Dubai.Mumbai, India- My city, my home, my heaven, my love, my lovely country, I don't know how I've survived these years away from you!

I'm trying to get back to my blog to write back about my life and my experiences and yes my thoughts!